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Heroin overdose


Alternative names

Poisoning from an overdose of heroin .

Poisonous Ingredient

  • heroin

Where Found

  • heroin

Symptoms

  • body as a whole
    • muscle spasticity
  • respiratory
    • breathing slow and labored
    • breathing shallow
    • stopped breathing (sometimes fatal within 2-4 hours)
  • eyes, ears, nose, and throat
    • pinpoint pupils
    • dry mouth
    • tongue discoloration
  • skin
    • bluish colored fingernails and lips
  • gastrointestinal
    • spasms of the stomach and/or intestinal tract
    • constipation
  • heart and blood vessels
    • weak pulse
    • low blood pressure
  • nervous system
    • drowsiness
    • disorientation
    • coma
    • delirium

Home Treatment

DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Call emergency services and Poison Control Center.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:
  • the patient's age, weight, and condition
  • the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
  • the time it was swallowed
  • the amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Bring a sample with you to the emergency room if available.

What to expect at the emergency room

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:
  • Use gastric lavage .
  • Administer activated charcoal.
  • Administer a laxative.
  • Give a counteracting drug (narcotic antagonist)--multiple doses if needed.
  • Administer intravenous fluids as needed.
  • Monitor breathing.
  • Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis)

If an antidote can be given, recovery from an acute overdose occurs within 24 to 48 hours.

Update Date: 2/23/2004

Cherlin Johnson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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